Application & Fees

Important Dates

July 30, 2024
- Preparer Training | 9-11 a.m. ET
- FY2024 Preparer Training Recording
- FY2024 Preparer Training Handouts
Nov. 15, 2024
- Auditor's report must have this date
- Agency applications due
December 3, 2024
- Reviewer’s Training | 9-11 a.m. ET
- FY 2024 CEAR Reviewer Training Recording
- FY 2024 CEAR Reviewer Training Handout
December 9, 2024
- Reviewer applications due
- Reviewer Submission Form
Dec. 15, 2024
- FY 24 CEAR Program agency packet and filing fees due
Dec. 31, 2024
- SPFI (optional)
December 2024
- Digital reviews begin
- Agency packets mailed to reviewers
March/April 2025
- Reviewer Team Meetings
- Harold I. Steinberg Excellence in Accountability Report Award nominations due
May 21, 2025
- CEAR Awards Ceremony, Washington D.C.

FY2024 CEAR Guidelines
(MS-Word)

FY2024 CEAR Guidelines
(PDF)

Application Filing Fee

For FY2024, the application rates are as follows:

$8,000 for CFO Act agencies.
$5,500 for agency components, ATDA Act agencies, and congressional or judicial branch agencies.

The filing fee is due when the application and other documents are submitted. AGA Federal Tax ID: 53-0217158

FY24 CEAR Program Agency Application

Award Applicant Process

The following steps are to assist the agencies in the preparation and submission of the Fiscal Year 2024 Agency Financial Reports/Performance and Accountability. Please include all required documents to complete your submission. AGA will contact the agency's point-of-contact should the packet received be incomplete.

Follow the FY2024 CEAR Program Guidelines when preparing AFR/PAR reports. Download from the right menu. The FY 2024 CEAR Guidelines are available for download.
Completed CEAR application for your agency.
An original letter signed by your agency’s chief financial officer or equivalent-level official requesting that your report be reviewed by the Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting program.
Six printed copies of your AFR/PAR (a signed, print-ready copy is acceptable).
Six printed copies responding to last year's recommendations — If your agency participated in the program the prior year, we strongly encourage your agency to make six copies of a letter responding to each of last year’s recommendations for strengthening the AFR/PAR. Excellence in AFR/PAR is an evolving process.
Optional:
- The CEAR program highly encourages all agency applicants to provide names of experienced individuals representing the CFOs, inspectors general and other officers who participated in performance activities from participating agency who are available to serve as program reviewers.
- To assist the review team, agencies are requested to submit, with their AFR/PAR, one copy of the guidelines to which you adhered, detailing on which pages of your AFR/PAR the requirements in the guidelines are addressed. Completing and submitting a copy of the guidelines in this manner helps the agency ensure it has included each of the appropriate items of information in the report and helps the reviewers readily locate the required items.
Helpful AFR/PAR style guide

Packet Delivery Options

We will still accept deliveries of completed packet as usual. Agencies have the following options:

Hand deliver the packet to our office located at mailing address below.
Mail completed application packet to the address below.

AGA
ATTN: CEAR Program
2208 Mount Vernon Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22301-1314

Questions?